Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Days after debris from a satellite breakup posed a threat, astronauts took refuge in the Starliner spacecraft, prompting the International Space Station (ISS) crew to conduct an emergency drill.
Credit : NASA
The ISS crew, including two Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts, participated in the emergency drill. The exercise focused on procedures for handling potential crises like pressure leaks, chemical leaks, or fires.
The drill was coordinated with mission controllers on Earth, ensuring comprehensive emergency preparedness for all nine astronauts aboard the station.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams completed essential maintenance tasks, including refilling temperature loops with water in the Tranquility module’s internal thermal control system.
Wilmore and Williams reviewed procedures for the Fluid Systems Servicer, a crucial tool for managing fluids in various station systems, ensuring the station’s operational integrity.
Wilmore refilled coolant loops in the Columbus module’s water pump assembly, while both astronauts participated in exercise routines to measure their aerobic capacity using specialized sensors.
Wilmore serviced research freezers for preserving scientific samples, and Williams installed hardware for an experiment investigating atmospheric reentry and thermal protection systems.
Despite several propulsion system issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks, Williams expressed confidence in the spacecraft. This mission is Boeing’s final step before Starliner can receive NASA certification for routine astronaut flights, joining SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in the human spaceflight market.